Bowling practice device

ABSTRACT

A bowling practice device .Iadd.(1) .Iaddend.having a ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.with a concave upwardly sloping inclined surface and a pad .Iadd.(5) .Iaddend.located at the top of the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.for stopping forward motion of a bowling ball .Iadd.(32), .Iaddend.and causing the ball .Iadd.(32) .Iaddend.to roll in a reverse direction down the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.and toward a bowler. Means .Iadd.(10,11,12) .Iaddend.are also provided for supporting the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.in a free-standing manner on a horizontal surface and for preventing movement of the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.relative to the surface upon an impact by the ball .Iadd.(32).Iaddend..

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to sporting equipment in general and inparticular to a device for practicing bowling.

Many persons interested in learning a sport or in improving theirproficiency in a sport with which they are familiar employ practicedevices. In golf, for example, there is available for practice plasticgolf balls which, when struck, travel but a short distance and aregenerally safe to be used in relatively confined areas. The action ofthe ball, when struck, relates to the player the nature of the strikeand whether or not an improvement in this regard should be made. Also ingolf there is provided apparatus for improving putting which may be usedon a horizontal surface such as, for example, a living room floor or thelike. Some of the putting practice devices employ electro-mechanicalmeans for returning a putted ball to the putter. In the sport of tennis,ball machines and backboards are employed for the purpose of teachingthe sport to a new player and for the purpose of improving the skills ofan experienced player. The sport of baseball also employs ball machines.In baseball, the ball machine takes the form of a pitching machine for"throwing" a ball to a batter.

Heretofore, in the sport of bowling, a person who desired to learn thegame or practice and improve certain skills in bowling, such as, forexample, the swing, the release and the follow-through, have had toattend a conventional bowling alley. When attending a conventionalbowling alley, it is frequently necessary to pay for each line ofbowling and, as is the case in many sports, the cost of the lines isincreasing and in many areas has increased to a level where it isbecoming impractical, or at least highly burdensome to pay the cost inorder to practice certain skills. Moreover, with the ever-increasingpopularity of the sport of bowling, which has given rise to anever-increasing number of leagues which use the available bowling alley,it is becoming more and more difficult to obtain the use of a bowlingalley at a convenient time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, a principal object of the present invention isa bowling practice device suitable for practicing certain bowlingskills.

Another object of the present invention is a bowling practice devicesuitable for home use.

Still another object of the present invention is a bowling practicedevice which automatically returns the ball to the bowler.

Still another object of the present invention is a bowling practicedevice which may be used on a conventional home floor, rug or carpet.

Still another object of the present invention is a bowling practicedevice which is relatively light-weight and portable, simple in design,inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use andefficient in operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a bowling practice device according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a profile view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a profile sketch of the device of FIGS. 1-3 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided, in accordance with the presentinvention, a bowling practice device designated generally as 1. Device 1comprises a ramp 2 having a lower forward edge 3, and an upper edge 4.The ramp 2 also comprises a generally upwardly sloping concave inclinedsurface extending from the lower edge 3 to the upper edge 4, which isgenerally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the ramp.

Adjacent to and extending along the upper edge 4 of the ramp 2 there isprovided an elongated cushion or pad member 5. Pad 5 is provided forabsorbing the unspent energy of a bowled ball and returning it to itsbowler.

To support the ramp and pad member in a free-standing manner on ahorizontal surface, the device 1 is provided with a pair of spaced sidemembers 10 and 11 and a back member 12. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention each of the side member 10 and 11 and rear member 12 comprisea wall-like member. For making the device 1 lighter without seriouslycompromising its mechanical strength and rigidity, there is alsoprovided in the wall members 10 and 11 a hole 13. Members 10, 11 and 12are fitted together in a rigid manner when the device 1 is in use so asto prevent relative motion between the members and the ramp 4 when abowling ball impacts the ramp.

Extending between the side wall members 10 and 11 and forward of therear member 12 is a base member 14. Extending downwardly from the basemember 14 are a plurality of elongated parallel louver-like members 15and 16. Members 15 and 16 extend laterally across the bottom of thedevice 1 and are provided with an edge 17 and 18, respectively, whichcooperate with a corresponding pair of parallel edges 19 and 20 forengaging the surface on which the device 1 is placed so as to preventrelative movement between the device 1 and the surface upon impact ofthe device by a ball. It is to be understood, however, that variousother means for preventing or reducing relative movement between thedevice 1 and a horizontal surface on which it is sitting may beemployed. For example, the base of the wall members 10, 11 and 12 may befitted with a material having a high coefficient of friction whichcooperates with the horizontal surface on which the device is sittingfor preventing relative movement therebetween. Indeed, in semi-permanentor permanent installations the device 1 may be glued, nailed orotherwise fixedly attached to the horizontal surface. In those cases,the louver-like member 15 and 16 may be omitted.

The ramp 2, in addition to its top and bottom edges 3 and 4, is alsoprovided with a pair of spaced side edges from which extends a ribmember 20 and 21. Members 20 and 21 are provided for preventingundesired lateral movement of a ball over the side edges of the ramp 2.

Referring to the top of the device 1, there is provided a top portion22. In the top portion 22 there is provided a female engaging meanscomprising an elongated T-shaped cavity 23. Extending from the bottom ofthe pad member 5 there is provided an elongated male engaging meanscomprising a comparable T-shaped extension 24. T-shaped extension 24 isadapted to fit in the T-shaped cavity 23 for retaining the pad member 5in a fixed position relative to the top of the inclined ramp 2.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown an illustration of the device 1 inuse.

In use the device 1 is placed on a surface 30. Surface 30 may comprise ahorizontal hardwood surface such as that found in a bowling alley, awood surface such as that used as a floor in a home, a ground surfacesuch as a clay surface and the like. A surface on which is placed a rugor carpet may also be used. Each surface, it may be noted, may beexpected to result in different action of the ball. A bowler 31 standinga reasonable distance from the front of the device 1 delivers a bowlingball 32 in a normal fashion toward the device 1 and in particular towardthe inclined surface 2 of the ramp. As the ball 32 engages the loweredge 3 of the ramp 2, the ball is directed upwardly. As the ball isdirected upwardly, its forward velocity is reduced. Any unspent energyof the ball, as it approaches the pinnacle of the device, is absorbed bythe pad 5. Pad 5 may be made of a variety of materials such ashorsehair, a stiff foam material or any other material found suitablefor the purpose. After the forward energy of the ball is absorbed by thepad 5, the ball is caused to fall downwardly and is directed to thebowler by the concave surface of the ramp 2.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readilyoccur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,but to include as may substitutions as may be incorporated in theembodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention incorporated therein. For example, the device shown anddesribed is a rigid device comprising fixed wall members 10, 11 and 12with a fixed inclined ramp surface 2. It is apparent that, by means wellknown to those skilled in the art, the device 1 could be constructed ina fashion that would permit the wall members 10, 11 and 12 to collapserelative to one another so as to reduce the overall size of the devicefor purposes of storage and transportation. For example, the rear member12 may be fitted to side members 10 and 11 by means of a tongue andgroove and the rear members 10 and 11 may be attached to the ramp 2 bymeans of hinges. If so constructed, the wall members 10 and 11 could befolded relative to one another upon the removal therefrom of the rearmember 12 with an appropriate and corresponding disposition being madeof the base member 14. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of theinvention not be limited to the embodiments described but be determinedby reference to the claims hereinafter provided and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bowling practice device comprising:meansforming an inclined ramp for receiving a rolling bowling ball deliveredby a bowler, said ramp having a lower forward edge, a pair of spacedside edges and an upper edge and a generally upwardly sloping inclinedsurface extending from said lower forward edge to said upper edge, thelower half of said inclined surface being generally concave in that itis curved symmetrically upwardly from its midpoint toward each of saidside edges along substantially its entire length and curved upwardlyfrom said lower forward edge toward said upper edge with respect to atleast the lower half thereof for centering a ball striking the devicebetween said side edges; and means forming a pad at said upper edge ofsaid inclined surface for stopping the forward motion of said ball, andcausing said ball to roll in a reverse direction down said ramp towardsaid bowler.
 2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising:meansfor supporting said ramp and pad in a free-standing manner on ahorizontal surface; and means for preventing movement of said devicerelative to said horizontal surface when a ball impacts said ramp andpad.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said supporting meanscomprises a pair of spaced side members, said spaced side membersextending rearwardly from the vicinity of said side edges; means forholding said side members in a fixed position relative to each other andsaid ramp when the device is in use, said device having a base portionand wherein said means for preventing movement of said device relativeto said horizontal surface comprises means extending from said baseportion for engaging said horizontal surface.
 4. A device according toclaim 3 wherein said spaced side members comprise wall members, saidbase portion comprises means extending horizontally between said wallmembers and said horizontal surface engaging means comprises a pluralityof elongated parallel members extending downwardly from saidhorizontally extending means of said base portion.
 5. A device accordingto claim 1 comprising means forming an upstanding rib member extendingfrom each of said side edges for preventing undesired lateral movementof a ball over said side edges.
 6. A device according to claim 1 furthercomprising a top portion and means for attaching said pad on said topportion.
 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said attaching meanscomprises a female engaging means disposed in said top portion and amale engaging means extending from said pad for engaging said femaleengaging means.
 8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said maleengaging means is a T-shaped member and said female engaging means is aT-shaped channel. .Iadd.
 9. A bowling practice device comprising meansfor receiving a rolling bowling ball, said receiving means comprisingmeans having parallel edges for centering said rolling bowling ball withrespect to the longitudinal axis of said receiving means and meansforming an upwardly inclined curved surface for reducing the forwardvelocity of the ball and returning the ball to the roller thereof..Iaddend..Iadd.
 10. A bowling practice device according to claim 9wherein said receiving means comprises a lower forward edge and an upperedge and said upwardly inclined curved surface is curved upwardly fromsaid lower forward edge toward said upper edge with respect to at leastthe lower part thereof and said parallel edges extend substantially theentire length of said receiving means between said lower and said upperedges for centering said ball with respect to the longitudinal axis ofsaid receiving means anytime the ball moves away from said longitudinalaxis after impacting said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 11. A bowlingpractice device according to claim 9 wherein said centering meanscomprises a curved surface which slopes upwardly from the longitudinalaxis of said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 12. A bowling practicedevice according to claim 9 wherein said centering means comprises meansfor directing a bowling ball moving laterally from the longitudinal axisof said receiving means toward said longitudinal axis anytime the ballis moved away from said longitudinal axis after impacting said receivingmeans. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 13. A method of making an apparatus forpracticing bowling comprising the steps of:forming a bowling ballreceiving means comprising an upwardly inclined curved ball receivingsurface for reducing the forward velocity of a bowling ball rolled ontosaid surface; and providing means having parallel edges for deflecting aball moving laterally from said ball receiving surface toward said ballreceiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 14. A method according to claim 13comprising the step of providing a surface which curves symmetricallyupwardly from the longitudinal axis of said ball receiving surface forcentering a ball relative to the longitudinal axis of said ballreceiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 15. A method according to claim 13wherein said step of deflecting a ball moving laterally from said ballreceiving surface toward said ball receiving surface comprises the stepof providing a vertically extending wall member outside of the laeraledges of said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 16. A method ofmaking an apparatus for practicing bowling comprising the steps of:providing a bowling ball receiving surface which is upwardly inclinedand curved over substantially its entire length for reducing the forwardvelocity of a bowling ball rolled onto said surface; providing means forcentering a bowling ball on said ball receiving surface so that a ball,rolled onto said surface, will be returned by gravity to the rollerthereof along a line collinear to the longitudinal axis of said ballreceiving surface; and providing means having parallel edges fordeflecting a ball moving laterally from said ball receiving surfacetoward said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 17. A methodaccording to claim 16 wherein said step of providing means havingparallel edges for deflecting a ball toward said ball receiving surfacecomprises the step of providing a vertically extending wall memberadjacent to the lateral edges of said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend.